The Opelousas courier., 1887-11-19
MAJOR II. 81. BURKE.

generously a~pplauded. Major Burke
MAJOR II. 81. BURKE
Review OF the States Advancement Under
Gov. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. for Opposing
Gen. Nichols Candidacy-Answer to
the Charge of P~ers6nafism.
Ladies and Fellow-Democrats-I have had
several most difficult tasks set for mo since
the commencement of this campaign, but
none perhaps quite as difficult as the one now
before me. I do not r~ecollect having had set
to me a moro pleasant task at any time since
the opening OF the campaign, but 1t has
fallen to me heretofore, as in the present
case, to follow the distinguished gentlemen
who have sraversed the political ground and
sometimes under the most difficult circum-
stances. Down in Southwestern Louisiana
the other day I found 1 had to talk against a
horse race, and I resolved that l would never
try that again. Up in North Louisiana on
one occasion I found q hungry audience
with a barbecue waiting, and I resolved I
would never try that again; but pol this
occasion I not only find q barbecue. but l
find myself Iaboring under the difficulty of
trying to speak without a voice, suffering
from O severe sore throat, quite huarse n
in considerable pain, n L shall haTe to ask
my audience to bear with me while l glance
rapidly at some of the questions that l think
| ought to discuss before the people to-day.
It Is q grateful task for me to have the 3D.
p~ortunity to go before the people OF my stare
and acknowledge the great obligations which
I am under, having held a commission from
the Democracy of this State, either in 9 po-
Itical or official capacity. for the past fifteen
wears. It is true that [ have endeaYored to
discharge my duty to the satisfaction and
benefit of my people, but it Is nevertheless
frf1e that the Uniform kindness that [ have
received at the hants of the people has
created a deep impression upon me-.
/ am not before you as o man seeking Tor
promotion, nor do come to defend my past
political acts. / believe that my record is
me, and if after fifteen years OF arduous ser,
vice it now requires explanations / have lived
to little purpose. TApplause and eheers.l
ple Of this State for the political honors they
have bestowed upon me, | recall with espe-
cial pleasure and qualification the kindness
and support that [ have receSyed at the
hands OF the people q Gf kap,aff ,o paf sria;,a !
many of the most~diAingHished and hon
ored SONS of your parish, and / may lie per,
mibted to recall q fact which l am remlnda@
of here to-day, that BheIil
FIRST TooK MY OFFICIAL COMMISSION
at the hands of the people of this State, one
of the Democrats Of this parish, the Hon.
Ed. G.. Hunter, upon the floor OF tue Demo-
| cratic convention, in that memorable contest
OF 1873 against Col. Richardson, and that
| resoundine wordSs3own the aisle of that con-
| yention: 'tRapides, small in numbers, but
| great in her Democracy, casts her vote for
L. A. Burke lCheers and applause.J
My labors for some years past, as you
know, have not been in political fields.
When the State had been redeemed. when ct
last the people were free to pursue the deyel-
opment Of then, materlal resources, l set NY
self anotht, task. Taking mp the profession
OF journalism, I bent ms efforts through the
press to align Louisia4a with that great,
progressive movement that was Swelling and
gaining in volume throughout the South
| Every hour that could be given from nay OH.
cial duties was bestqEed upon that work
from 1880 tolSS3. Then came the work ri
the Worlds Exposition. You know shatIol
two long years my life and my services Werc
devoted to that great industrial movement
You must therefore see, my friends, how i'm
possible il is that these allegations that iiave
gone throughout the State that [ was at g-oul
eapitalaiding, assisting, abettlng, eonffolllne
distribution ofpublic patronage. 1t is utterly
out of the question. My relation with
Samuel Douglas McEnery has been in the
discharge of the duties that thep people OF
this State had put in my hands. Tn tht
question Of patronage [ stand perhaps to
| day an isolated instance among men VIII
have occupied prominent positions in tn
State who have never received from tise Tx
ecutiye of this State any patronage what
ever. No man stands in the State OF Louisi
ana to-day holding @ commission from fhi
Executive of this State d. The solicitation O
e. A. Burke. No, not Only thai, blt no MAJ
in any parish Of this State holds bis commits
THROUGH MY URdENe
or solicitation.
make that statement rot alone in jHstic
to myseif, but in justice to the seHttema,
who occupies the Executive chair and IN vie!
Of the assertions that nave been sent broad
east throughout this State. As said before
my feelings, my interests and my inclination
were wrapped up IN ihat great indIistrls
movement that was springiag up all Owe
the South. { observed that with the mat
gtration of these Exnosltions {and I touc
npon that for the reason thai I understan
the appropriGt ton mate BY the General Al
selnRly of this State for the Worlds EXPOS
ton has been subjected to critlcis1n.)
found that the Exposition that had been II
augurated ut Atlanta in 1880, louisville
1881, the Worlds Exposition IN 1854 wei
rapidly directing toward the South caDlfS
causing great industries 70 spring up, n
find es a result OF those Expeditions that To
South has gained Ia wealth 5000, COG, 90
in the last seven years. 1 ind that she hs
increased investments IN FACTOR products {
sprung up throughout the Southern States
that we are gaining Wealth at the rate
1928. 600. 0o0E Sssr, and I longed for q
p~prtunitIes to contribute by every means !
my power to aiigning Louisiana IN tn
great movement of Southern industrial II
dependence. Ibeliege Ihat the experience
OF the other States and IbeSeve that the O
/ periences of Louisiana fully Justify. the e.
pandisnre OF the money of the people max
! IN 1888. Although the increase has bee
within the last seven years, still the iaeTea'
!. has been more marked since the E2pos45scl
We have increased in values within the IL
/ seven years sol. 600, 900. We have i
] crossed $I2. 500, 600 in product, and y
+ have increased iii the value OF. crops So
: 500, COG. New industries have been eDel'
! upsilot only to the men OF this country. b
through these E1posibioDs there has bct
] opened up not onlyin the parishes, bItdoN
fn New Orleans there are now 5000 mo
! women earning independent hyeihocds TIL
there we're in 1880, and II that rcsil.t al5l
had been accomplished by the expendtture
the 500, 600 it would have been we'll
ii IS proper thst I should touch in til
campaign upon the efforts OF the state q
| NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. d member OF It-an
j rRE RESTORATION or 4 CREDIT OF =
Il
When I came into ofies we found the Sta
credit was down fOrtT-tFo cents on tho Oh
ar Treasury warrants OF H1y. NiehD
we're worth tWeIty-iiFeand tlIrey-ise cef
!, on She collar. and it was seldom tlas y
ever fyana an officer VINO MAS tsttta " cote
{ nig Warraaks at the state Treasure / !
Is9e1fheroncof my first discoveries nntIert
poliey that ii4I 5Sea al9pssa b. ElIptes
q cessor-a first c1siss first seFsaa.M IsTIqAf
Or othars wlio caail ohsLtns information